Channel rail support for tv stands



0 United States Patent l 13,537,408

[72] Inventors 2 :1 f gisa [56] References Cited 8 a 5 Thomas M. O'Sullivan, Lamar, Missouri UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] Appl. No. 728,984 2,163,049 6/1939 Merrill 108/156 22 il M 14,1968 2,369,140 2/1945 Dewey..... 108/156 [45] p d No 3,1970 2,428,877 10/1947 Holabird 108/156 [73] Assignee OSulllvah Industries, Inc. 2,533,831 12/1950 Motta 108/153 Wilmington Delaware Hamliton et al. a corporfion of Del ware. by mesne Ferdinand 61 al. 21 assignments 3,341,027 9/1967 Mackin et a1 211/148 3,341,160 9/1967 Jones 108/156X Primary EraniinerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney Kingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers and Robbins [54] CHANNEL RAIL SUPPORT FOR TV STANDS 3 Claims 7 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: A channel rail cross member for connecting legs [52] US. Cl. [08/156, of a TV stand and supporting a shelf member, The channel 108/1 1 1, 312/257 rail is provided with two offset channels, one of which receives [51] Int. Cl A4711 47/00, theshelf in supporting relation. The two channel rails are con- A47b 57/03, A471 3/06 nected by a web portion and, through an extension of the web [50] Field of Search 108/108 to Portion Serve as oulders or braces when the channel rail is connected to the legs of the stand.

Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,408

THOMAS M. otsuLuww,

HTTORIVEYS By means of this invention, a channel rail brace has been provided which supports a top shelf of a TV-stand, or other type of table, and also serves as a cross brace for the legs. The channel rail permits knockdown packaging and eliminates the need of welding the legs to a cross brace. Thus, the legs of the stand and the other members can be packaged individually permitting smaller cartons.

The channel rail serves a dual purpose in supporting a top shelf and also connecting the legs together in braced relationship. The two channel rails abut against the inner ends of the legs while an end extension of the connecting web of the channel rail is connected to the adjacent side of the legs, providing a squared relation preventing wobbling. A flanged hole in the extension mating with a dimpled hole in the leg for reception of a connecting screw provides for the preloading and effecting of a rigid joint.

The channel rail is simply formed and can be used in the erection of the TV-stand without any special tools required or technical training. The channel rail provides a rugged and simply constructed stand, inexpensive in cost and attractive in appearance.

The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose illustration of this invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred example of the invention. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a pictorial view of a TV-stand using the channel rail ofthis invention in broken apart or exploded relation;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the channel rail broken apart and showing the end web extension partly in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section of the channel rail taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section showing the corner of the top shelf connected to the end of the channel rail;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of I DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The TV-stand is shown in FIG. I generally indicated by the reference numeral 20. It is comprised of the channel rail 22 of this invention, connecting tubular metal legs 24 having dimpled holes 25, wooden rails 26, and the shelf 28. A bottom shelf assembly 30 and wood handles 32 complete the construction of the TV-stand.

The channel rail 22 replaces conventional metal cross members that may be welded to the leg or a wooden cross member glued to the top shelf. The channel rail is specifically shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as including a top channel rail section 34 and a bottom channel rail section 36 connected by a medial web portion 38. The web portion 38 has extensions 40 and 42 extending beyond the rear end 44 and front end 46 of the channel rail section. A flanged hole 47 is provided in each of the extensions. A strip of wood grained self-adhesive vinyl film 48 is applied on the web 38 to match the wood solids of the stand, as best shown in FIG. 3.

USE

In order to assemble the stand using the channel rail support of this invention the channel rail 22 is first interfitted with the top shelf 28 and the wood rails 26, as best shown in FIGS. 4

and 5. Thus, the wood shelf 28 is fitted in the top channel rail portion 34 and the extensions 40 and 42 of the web are abutted against the ends of the wood rails 26. The assembled channel rail and shelf are then connected to the legs 24 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Thus, the ends of the upper and lower channel rail portions 34 and 36 are butted against the insides of the legs 24 and the extensions 40 and 42 are squared between the legs 22 and the wooden rails 26. A connecting screw 50 is then fitted through the dimpled holes 25 in the legs and the flanged holes 47 in the web extension 40 into the wooden rail 26 to provide a firm and secure connection for the shelf and the legs.

The wooden handles 32 are then simply connected to the tops of the legs by connecting screws as shown in FIG. I. Similarly, the bottom shelf assembly 30 is connected to the bottom portions of the legs by connecting screws likewise as shown in FIG. 1.

Thus, by this invention, there has been provided a channel rail construction which fully supports the shelf assembly in the channel rail to prevent any possibility of warping and to provide a firm and secure connection and support between the legs of the stand. The channel rail construction further, through the spaced upper and lower channel rail portions, serves as a squaring brace for the connecting legs in conjunction with the extension of the medial web between the channel rail portions, which completes the squaring relation of the legs and connection to the shelf with its front and rear supporting rails.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A channel rail support for connectinga shelf to a pair of legs; said support comprising a web connecting upper and lower channel portions, said web extending beyond said channel portions, the channel portions being C-shaped and having open end surfaces cut perpendicularly to their longitudinal axis and the web portion said shelf being receivable within one of said channel portions and said legs being butted against both the ends of said channel portions in squared relation with said web extensions.

2. The channel rail support of claim 1 in which the web extension is fitted between a leg and a rail support at the edge of the shelf extending perpendicularly to said channel rail support.

3. The channel rail support of claim 1 in which the web extension is provided with a flanged opening mating'in registering relation with a dimpled opening in the leg, said opening receiving a connecting screw therethrough to connect the leg through the extension to said rail support. 

